At 13:16 13/04/00 -0400, you wrote:
>I am secretary of a county local history association and would like to find
>a simple, user-friendly database onto which I can put the membership
>records and from which I can print our annual list of members and their
>interests, as well as labels for mailings. I would also like it to be
>easily transferable to another PC when the job of secretary passes to
>another member. Any suggestions, preferably tried and tested, gratefully
>received. Barbara Hornby [log in to unmask]
The crucial question for mailings is how well the database integrates with
word processing software to do 'mail merges'. I battle with the
stupendously *un*user-friendliess of MS Access and Word (necessary because
my 'day job' requires this combination and, having made some progress
towards workable solutions, can now use for non-work purposes also). But
Access most certainly needs *considerable* training before even the most
simple operations can be undertaken.
PC Plus magazine July 1999 issue surveyed databases and top of the pile put
Ability Database 98 which costs a mere UKP 20 but has all the features of
much pricier software (and only a moderate number of quirks and glitches,
none too irritating). More info at <www.ability.com>. (However I have not
used this myself!!!)
MS Works is OK as an 'electronic card file' and is easy to set up but has
only a miniscule number of functions compared to a 'real' database.
Filemaker Pro has its merits (powerful; easy for beginners to set up; able
to 'evolve' smoothly into much more complex databases) but costs about UKP
200 . . .
Does this help??
Bob
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Bob Trubshaw [log in to unmask]
Heart of Albion Press
2 Cross Hill Close, Wymeswold, Loughborough, LE12 6UJ, UK
Phone: (0)1509 880725
Fax: (0)1509 881715
www.indigogroup.co.uk/albion/
[log in to unmask]
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